Bishan was about to head in from the surf for the day, only to be called over by a friend to see a long black shadow under the water about 10 metres away.

When the whale breached above the surface, Bishan had a great view of its barnacles, blowhole and even heard the mammal make a noise.

"It was like an out-of-space object...

"He went away and turned around and at that stage we thought the show was over. Then he gently started towards me... and I was just mesmerised."

At no stage did he see the tail coming, "I was fixated on his (or her) eye, and that's the last thing I remember," he says.

Contrary to other reports, Bishan doesn't believe anything spooked the whale, but acknowledges the danger of the situation and says in future, he'll stay the recommended thirty metres away from whales.

"It was just inquisitive. We were in the whale's turf - it was just having some fun. I hadn't realised it had come so close", he says.

Bishan says it is true he said to the whale, 'How's it going?' And he likes to think, in response the whale "gave the board a high five".